Warning: sensitive content. Viewer discretion is advised! This was definitely the sighting, which affected me the most emotionally. Nature is beautiful, but extremely cruel at the same time! We were on an evening game drive in the South Luangwa in Zambia, when we spotted this hippo with its young one leaving the safe water for grazing. Our guide already told us “very risky to take this young one out that far away from the water”. After 30 min we heard loud screams. We followed the calls and found the two in a very unfortunate situation. A clan of hyenas smelt their opportunity for a meal. They teamed up, two hyenas targeting the hind legs of the mother. As soon as she turned around to defend herself another hyena went on the baby. This scene lasted a long time. The mother continuously trying to protect its young one. It was so hard to watch this and not interfere; however this is nature. After numerous attempts the hyenas were successful and took the baby down. The mother could only watch, realizing it was to late. Due to the thick skin it was a slow and painful death. I have never experienced the car that silent after a game drive… a memory I will never forget. I experienced “survival of the fittest” and the mechanism of natural selection first hand.
Location – South Luangwa National Park
